WALHALLA — Questions regarding the location of a new high school, programming opportunities and plans for the present site were among those asked by some of the approximately 100 individuals attending Tuesday night’s community meeting at Walhalla High School.

The meeting, held in the John Hostetler Auditorium, marked the third in a series being sponsored by the School District of Oconee County regarding its long-range building program. Though two of the five options presented in December by USC professor Ken Stevenson involve consolidation between Walhalla and Tamassee-Salem middle and high schools, that was only one of the concerns expressed by audience members.

Davy Lee asked Michael Thorsland, assistant superintendent for operational services who presented the five options, whether traffic difficulties experienced at the present school site on S.C. Highway 183 had been alleviated with a new red light recently installed. However, Thorsland said the traffic issue not only involves 183 but the Walhalla High campus as well.

Walhalla High School teacher Kathy Plowden questioned whether technology and electrical inefficiencies at the school would be addressed through the plan. Thorsland said those inefficiencies would indeed be addressed.

Kym Alexander, who is the School Improvement Council chairman for Tamassee-Salem Middle and High School, questioned why the board was looking at a long-range plan before addressing programming issues. Oconee County District Superintendent Mike Lucas said the board would examine the plan while he would examine programming issues.

The consolidation issue was discussed during the meeting, though only briefly. One concerned citizen asked school district officials whether teachers or other school employees would lose their jobs and Thorsland said that while consolidation does save money with staffing, any reductions are typically handled through attrition.

Another question involved using the Tamassee DAR School for magnet programs and district official said all avenues would be considered.

Stan King asked school officials whether they expected to see any significant increase in students for the Tamassee-Salem area. Officials replied that the district is unsure at this time and that such a projection is “hard to predict.”

Diana Kruezberger questioned the name and location of a new, consolidated Walhalla and Tamassee-Salem High School should the board ultimately choose to move in that direction. Though Thorsland said nothing has been determined at this time, he did say the core of a new high school would be constructed for 1,400 students with classroom space for 1,200.

But district officials also repeatedly stated that nothing has been determined as far as a new school site and that no land has been acquired.

Another question posed by Kruezberger was whether a new stadium would be required for construction if a new high school were built. Thorsland replied that a practice field would most likely be constructed at the new site and the present stadium would continue to host Walhalla High football contests.

On the question as to where the new additions to Walhalla High would be located, considering how landlocked the school is at its current site, Thorsland admitted that acquiring new property on the present campus would be a challenge. However, he said an architect would have to see what the design would entail.

Suzie Cornelius questioned whether results of an on-line survey by the district regarding the long-range building plan (www.oconee.k12.sc.us) would be made public. District officials acknowledged would be the case and that comments are still being compiled on computer and disaggregated by the district according to the attendance area.

While the community meetings feature questions rather than public input, district officials said the public could have their say at a noon meeting on March 19 in the district office boardroom. Input will range from instructional programs to the climate of the schools and buildings.

The final community meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Monday in the Harry Hamilton Auditorium at Seneca High School. All interested persons are invited to attend.